After securing the unified cruiserweight world titles, David Benavidez is looking for an opponent who can further elevate his growing reputation. Yet, a fellow division contender claims that “The Mexican Monster” is holding up a potential bout.
Benavidez dominated Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in his cruiserweight debut last month, capturing the unified WBA and WBO championships with a sixth‑round knockout that has been lauded as a performance‑of‑the‑year candidate.
Since then, the prospect of a return to light‑heavyweight and a fight with Dmitry Bivol has dimmed. Benavidez’s impressive display at 200 lb has convinced him to stay in his new weight class.
In that division, fans have been eager for a clash with Jai Opetaia, despite the Australian being stripped of the IBF title. Opetaia expressed confusion over the fight’s delay in a clip captured by MMA Crazy.
“Man, I would love that fight. I have been chasing these unifications for such a long time now, so to get one over the line would be awesome.
“I am just waiting, that fight is easy to make on our side, so I don’t know what the hold up is on theirs.”
While the Benavidez‑Opetaia matchup is considered the most intriguing encounter at cruiserweight, Benavidez is poised to face WBC champion Noel Mikaelian next.
Mikaelian, the Armenian, was ordered to fight the Arizona‑born pound‑for‑pound star earlier this month as part of a mandatory title defense.